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It’s not every day that you get to be the smiling face of a global charitable initiative, but that is exactly what happened to local teen, Hadi Somakih. Align Technology, the worldwide market leader in clear aligner treatment, recently announced that Hadi, a 12-year old from Mississauga, is the five millionth Invisalign patient worldwide. To mark this extraordinary milestone, the company has launched a global campaign with a mission to improve even more smiles through its leading-edge dental treatments and charitable partnership.

It was by chance that Hadi became the five millionth person to start Invisalign treatment, but the company could not have found a more fitting ambassador. “My superpower is smiling,” says Hadi. “Just by simply smiling you make everybody feel better, and when people feel better they want to accomplish good things.”

Hadi’s words are now being heard around the world as Align reaffirms its commitment to help children in need feel good about their smiles. From now through March 3, 2018, the company is inviting its patients, their families and everyone around the world to participate in its "5 Million Smiles" social media campaign. Each time someone posts a picture of his or her smile on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and uses the dedicated hashtag #5MillionSmiles, the company will donate $1 to Operation Smile – up to a total pledge of $1 million. A simple smile can help change a life.

Operation Smile is an international medical charity that has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities. It is one of the oldest and largest volunteer-based organizations dedicated to improving the health and lives of children worldwide through access to surgical care.

*Align Technology donation pledge through March 3, 2018. To date, Align has donated more than $400,000 to Operation Smile. Facebook shares must be made public to trigger the donation. Restrictions apply. See the full terms and conditions at Invisalign.com.

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